Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
  • G09B23/00—Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes
  • G09B23/28—Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes for medicine
  • G09B23/285—Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes for medicine for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
  • G09B23/00—Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes
  • G09B23/28—Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes for medicine
  • G09B23/286—Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes for medicine for scanning or photography techniques, e.g. X-rays, ultrasonics

Definitions

• the present invention relates to clinical and/or surgical training apparatus.
• clinical and/or surgical training apparatus comprising: a plurality of simulations of body structures, the simulations being a set of simulations of a particular part of the anatomy and being of increasing anatomical complexity and/or presenting increasing clinical or surgical difficulty; and means for receiving at least one of the simulations so that a surgical and/or a clinical technique may be practised.
• the receiving means may comprise a housing, for example one which provides a simulation of at least part of a body.
• the simulations may be simulations of internal body structures .
• the simulations may include different simulations of the gall bladder, such as with different thicknesses of gall bladder wall.
• At least one of the simulations may include a simulation of a foreign body.
• different simulations may incorporate different sizes of foreign body.
• the simulations could be mounted on adjustable supports .
• the present invention also comprises a clinical and/or training method using apparatus according to the invention.
• the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figures 1-6 show a sequence of simulations of a particular part of the anatomy; Figure 7 shows such a simulation mounted on a jig;
• Figure 8 is a view from above of what is shown in Figure 5 ;
• Figures 9 and 10 are sections through what is shown in Figure 7, in two conditions, being sections through A-A in Figure 8;
• Figure 11 shows a housing for receiving such simulations.
• One embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing in the form of a closed container which, in size and shape, resembles a structure such as a human abdominal cavity in which can be placed simulations made using one or more of latex rubber, foam latex rubber, condensation room temperature vulcanised (RTV) silicone, addition cured silicone, elastomeric polyurethane and hydrocolloids, which simulate structures important to a surgeon to carry out an operation - laparoscopic cholecystectomy for example.
• the container is provided with a pump which simulates "blood” flow through "arteries” if appropriate.
• the apparatus incorporates models in the form of simulations of increasing difficulty and/or complexity to enable a trainee surgeon to encounter many commonly met difficulties and problems associated with laparoscopic or other procedures in the environment of a skills training laboratory or centre.
• the apparatus presents, in stages, difficulties and complications as found in life.
• a first simulation comprises a composite pad with a multitude of fluid filled or non-fluid gel filled vessels set in connective tissue and covered with skin.
• This simulation is made from rubber or polymer filled tubes, acrylic webbing steeped in a mixture of condensation RTV silicone, addition cured silicone and silicone oil in a ratio of 1:05 to 1:5 or a hydrocolloid and fine reinforced foam latex sheet or hydrocolloid reinforced, 0.01 - 1.00 mm thick. (See GB-A-2 227 826) .
• a plurality of further simulations each comprises a similar structure to the first, but in each of which the multitude of vessels is replaced by a sac resembling the gall bladder, cystic duct and common bile duct. This is filled with a yellow fluid or non-fluid gel and sealed.
• gall bladders are used which present commonly and uncommonly found abnormalities such as fat, adherent bile duct, mesenteric extension, irregular juxtaposition of vessels and ducts, thick gall bladder wall, etc.
• reference numeral 1 designates a base sheet
• reference numeral 2 designates a simulation of the mesentery (and seen in cross-section)
• reference numeral 3 designates a simulation of the hepatic duct (which with the cystic duct makes up the bile duct)
• reference numeral 4 designates a simulation of the gall bladder
• reference numeral 8 designates a simulation of the cystic artery
• reference numeral 9 designates a simulation of the cystic artery and the hepatic artery.
• reference numeral 20 designates a simulation of a node .
• reference numeral 5 designates a simulation of fat and reference numeral 6 designates a simulation of the bowel adherent to the gall bladder and obliterating a view of it .
• reference numeral 7 designates a simulation of a 1 cm gall stone settled adjacent the simulation of the cystic duct 8.
• Figure 7 shows a jig 10 supporting such a simulation as described above.
• the jig 10 comprises a flexible frame 11 on a base 12 having screws 13 whereby the jig can be attached in a housing representing a simulation of at least part of a body.
• Reference numerals 14 designate attachments for a simulation of an abnormal liver lobe - in the form, for example, of one part each of a "touch and close fastener" such as a "Velcro" fastener, the other part being attached to the liver lobe.
• Figure 8 is a view from above of what is shown in Figure 7, reference numeral 15 designating a simulation of the front lobe of the liver, partially overlying the gall bladder 4.
• the frame 11 is flexibly adjustable and through it run support wires 16.
• the frame 11 is flexibly adjustable so that, in one condition, the arrangement is as shown in Figure 9 (to simulate the condition as in life and presented to a surgeon) and in another condition it is as shown in Figure 10, to which it has been moved by a surgeon practising an operation as in life.
• Figure 9 is a section through A-A in Figure 8.
• Figure 11 shows an example of the housing, designated 17, on a base 18 and with an endoscope 19 inserted in it.
• a simulated face with accompanying pads which carry pathologies for treatment and excision for example.
• the face features conditions such as naevi , skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, etc for identification.
• excision will fall to trainees of different skills levels.
• Accompanying replacement pads which fit on to a supporting jig form part of the kit for carrying out the procedure.
• the training apparatus may also include a detailed teaching programme and instructions for setting up and running a programme in a surgical and/or clinical environment, the method by which training can take place on simulated material for medical training for undergraduate and postgraduate levels being based on CD ROM and models, video tapes, Virtual Reality to complement the use of the simulations and the performance of techniques on the simulations.
• the instruction material may carry animation of the simulations for demonstrating procedures.
• Assessment packages may accompany the complete kit to enable achievement to be measured.
• the housing comprises a base, four walls and a roof.
• the base is solid and contains a facility to enable various types of simulations to be mounted within it.
• a pump is attached to the base, if appropriate, a reservoir to enable coloured fluid to be circulated through the simulations to simulate blood flowing through arteries and veins.
• the walls and roof of the container are designed in size, shape and other characteristics such as fat, connective tissue, muscle, peritoneum and vessels in normal positions or abnormal positions, to simulate the abdominal wall or other structure of a patient.
• the walls are so constructed that they can be punctured by conventional laparoscopic trocars in an unrestricted way, as well as conventional laparotomy incisions and abdominal incisions such as the Hasson technique, in the case of abdominal surgery.
• the container is capable of being expanded or inflated with carbon dioxide (or air) in the case of a simulated abdominal wall to simulate insufflation of the abdomen.
• carbon dioxide or air
• Different thicknesses of the "abdominal wall" may be available to simulate thin and obese patients .
• the structure of the container may take more of an anatomical form and feel similar to a patient.
• Replaceable structures which are designed to indicate presence within the container by tactile feel are held in place by pegs. If the significant features of a container are on the surface, visual appearance is therefore important as well as a tactile feel.
• the anatomical simulations are prepared using materials as set out above, in such a way that they resemble structures of a human body with respect to appearance, feel and internal properties. They can be dissected by a surgeon in the same way that organs and vessels of a patient can be dissected. They may contain tubes made using materials as set out above and engineered tooling or moulds, made in the pattern of vessels of the body or otherwise to simulate blood vessels which contain fluid pressurised to 80 to 150 mm Hg in a pulsatile manner, or to simply have a fluid flow from a container, to simulate blood flowing through the blood vessels. Other body fluids such as bile, may also be simulated by liquids of the appropriate colour and consistency or viscosity. Alternatively, in situations in which it is desirable that simulated body fluids should not flow, a non-fluid gel may be used.
• the simulations have properties which are needed for a procedure.
• liquid must flow once a catheter passes through a sphincter, this being achieved using materials as set out above of the correct tensile strength and shore A hardness, and of a design which caters for the correct size of aperture and therefore feel.
• the simulations are so designed that commonly encountered and important forms of pathology, and variations in anatomy, which a surgeon may expect to meet in the performance of an operation, cholecystectomy for example, are incorporated.
• other structures which may complicate an operation such as large amounts of abdominal fat, a large lobe of the liver, abnormally large organs, unusual angles and layout of anatomy, abnormal growths and adhesions between the organs.
• gall bladder, fibroid uterus and bile loops, etc. may be incorporated in the simulations.
• the simulations provide a progressive increase in difficulty and surprise for a trainee surgeon, who will operate on them in the same manner that a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for example would be carried in a patient.
• the anatomical structures involved in laparoscopic cholecystectomy are: bile duct, gall bladder, liver, omentum, duodenum and adhesions.
• Each of these anatomical organs can take on a different state.
• the combination of different states within the different organs together with other organs is not limited, therefore offering a wide variety of unusual conditions as met by a surgeon in the patient.
• Very thin bile duct Thick walled bile duct.
• Duodenum Duodenum adherent to cystic duct and lower part of gall bladder.
• Adrenal Glands The main vascular system of arteries and veins Oesophagus
• a thin sheet of a varying size made from reinforced silicone condensation RTV silicone or addition cured silicone and silicone oil in a ratio of 1:05 to 1:5 reinforced with nylon, cotton, lycra or polyester fibre.
• Alternative materials are: elastomeric polyurethane and hydrocolloids 0.01 to 1.00 mm thick.
• Organs for example bile, stomach, pancreas/filled or unfilled
• Hollow shape of the organ is taken from a two or more part mould using silicone and oil in a ratio of 1::05 to 1:5, elastomeric polyurethane, addition cured silicon, a hydrocolloid and foam latex. All forms are reinforced with nylon, cotton, lycra or polyester fibre. (See GB-A 2 227 826) .
• the filling of these organs is any one of the above in varying formulation.
• Chystical "R” plaster which has been pounded and the pieces sieved to be supplied in varying sizes.
• a cross-linked hydrocolloid A cross-linked hydrocolloid.
• testicular modules which present different conditions . These modules are put in place one after the other, the external appearance where possible remains the same and the trainee has to identify the condition through palpation and/or ultrasound.
• the testicles are made according to instruction under the heading "Organs" above.
• diagnosis of pathologies would be made through palpation, ultrasound and X-ray.
• Procedures of aspiration and biopsy would be made using the appropriate needles and, if desired, under ultrasound vision.
• Such parts of the body which would be presented for diagnosis and procedure using palpation, ultrasound, X-ray, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging would be the abdominal cavity and the normal contents of organs within it, including:
• Conditions on the skin can appear on any part of the simulated body parts.
• the programme provides skills training in all chosen aspects of surgical and clinical procedure.
• a surgeon or clinician who completes the skills training will be competent to carry out the operation or procedure in a patient if he or she has had no prior experience of surgery or significant exposure to the clinical environment. This is achieved by:

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Cited By (36)

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Citations (6)

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• 1997
  • 1997-06-19 GB GBGB9712987.8A patent/GB9712987D0/en active Pending
• 1998
  • 1998-06-19 ES ES98930893T patent/ES2175728T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-06-19 CA CA002293585A patent/CA2293585C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-06-19 DK DK98930893T patent/DK0990227T3/da active
  • 1998-06-19 CN CNB98806331XA patent/CN1173309C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-06-19 DE DE69804793T patent/DE69804793T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-06-19 HU HU0002657A patent/HUP0002657A3/hu unknown
  • 1998-06-19 WO PCT/GB1998/001792 patent/WO1998058358A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-06-19 AU AU81174/98A patent/AU755575B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1998-06-19 JP JP50398799A patent/JP2002511156A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-06-19 EP EP98930893A patent/EP0990227B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1999
  • 1999-12-17 US US09/466,615 patent/US6336812B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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